Best Running Shells (Marathon Tier List)

There is 7 Runner Shells (including Rook) for players to try out Marathon. However, the complexity of their abilities and their synergy with each other can confuse some players who want to raid alone or with others.

Below we have compiled all the Runners in Marathon and created a tier list ranking them from best to worst, including their strengths and weaknesses. You'll find a tier list along with why we've ranked them where they are, so you can stay on top of UESC and other runners.

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Marathon: Which runner/class should you play with?

Players will take on the role of different runners in Marathon, each with a distinct play style through their abilities, here's who to choose.

Runner Tier List in Marathon

Best & worst running shell

Tier	Runner Shell	Why it's ranked here
S level	Triage	Perfect for Squads, as Triages Med Drone allows you and your team to stay healed in and out of fights. Reboot+ Ultimate is also great for instantly reviving allies near and far.
S level	Killer	For solo players or those on a team who love to flank, the Assassin is great. His Active Camo allows him to enter invisibility, and Smoke Screen helps him disrupt enemy optics as he fights from the shadows.
S level	Vandal	An anarchist in combat that specializes in movement and maneuverability. Vandal is designed to be fast thanks to a double jump and faster sprint, using Amplify Ultimate. She is a character to use if you like to stay nimble.
A level	Recon	Recon helps paranoid players map out areas by tracking hostile enemies, whether UESC or other runners. While useful, the limited range and timer of their abilities keep them from being S-Tier.
A level	Destroyer	Riot Barricade is pretty decent for distracting enemies while your team deals damage. The Search and Destroy Ultimate really helps suppress fire thanks to its missiles, and the increase in sprint speeds helps the Destroyer get into combat quickly.
B level	Thief	This runner is designed for hoarders and those who want to stay out of the fray. The Grapple Device allows the thief to escape or reach high places, and the pickpocket drone can sweep up small loot. It is not a viable kit for combat.
B level	Hit	A solo-exclusive runner that can blend into UESC. Fairly decent for solo runs, but limited due to a forced sponsored kit and the inability to complete contracts.

S level marathon runner

Triage

Triage is a must for teams. Triage is a field medic and with the Med-Drone Ability they can deploy healing drones on themselves and their allies that work for both health and shields.

Triage's Reboot+ Prime Ability also helps in hard-to-win fights, as they can instantly revive teammates and even bring back their corpses to ensure they're back in the fight without delay.

Killer

Assassin is all about stealth, and it's beneficial for solo and squads. For solo players, the Assassin can be used to pick off enemies or to avoid them completely while raiding thanks to the Active Camo Tactical Ability. If you fail to sneak, the Smoke Screen Prime Ability always helps with a quick escape.

The Assassin's advantages for squads really come into play when facing a hostile team of runners, as the Assassin can usually move behind valuable enemies and flank them for easy kills while they are focused on your teammates.

Vandal

Vandal is great for PvP focused players. This troublemaker has enhanced movements to ensure she covers the high ground at higher speeds and heights than other runners. She is good for those who like to fight with an advantage.

Vandal's faster movement is great for getting around the map and losing enemies, and her defensive ability with the Disrupt Cannon ensures she has a trick up her sleeve when she needs to fight.

A-tier marathon runner

Destroyer

Destroyer is an underrated combat specialist that players can use for both solos and squads. With Destroyer, it's all about being the tank of the team. Riot Barricade provides a generous shield that replenishes charge, and it can be used to distract enemies like a bullet sponge.

Under heavy fire, Search and Destroy becomes an important primary ability, as damage allows auto-locked missiles to fire for extra damage. Destroyer's Thruster and Tactical Sprint also give him deeper mobility in combat to dash into battle or flee from it.

Recon

Recon's main focus is on information, allowing a team or solo player to see threats before they see you. Recon's Echo Pulse and Tracker Drone Abilities allow Recon to locate and identify threats from UESC to enemy runners, even with a varied cooldown.

Recon can really help paranoid players identify the threats that exist within a POI before taking a dangerous journey inside, as knowing where enemies are is much more beneficial than listening for footsteps, or worse, gunfire already aimed at your head.

B-level marathon runner

Thief

Thief is all about looting and staying away from enemies. While a pretty decent choice for solo players, Thief struggles to get any help for his team. The pickpocket drone is mainly just for scooping up loot while hiding from enemies, and the grappling unit is used to get away more than it's used to getting into fights.

Hit

Rook really deserves its own ranking, as this scavenger is designed for gigs only. With a limited loadout and an inability to complete contracts, Rook's whole gimmick is to get into a raid, clean up what's left by other runners, and get out.

Rook's abilities are all about camouflage and independence, and additional upgrades from Factions will make Rook a competent runner for those who want to continue on this scavenger run.

Released

March 5, 2026

ESRB

Teen/animated blood, language, violence, in-game purchases, user interaction

Multiplayer

Online Multiplayer, Online Co-Op